ST. LOUIS – University of Evansville outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski was named to the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete First Team in an announcement made by the league office Tuesday morning. Pitcher Ryan Billo and infielder Jonathan Ramon were also recognized on the MVC Honorable Mention team. 
Kaczmarski was the MVC's Joe Carter Player of the Year this season, the first Purple Ace in program history to receive the honor. The Cary, Ill. native was also named First Team All-Conference, and selected to the MVC All-Defensive Team this spring. A three-time MVC Player of the Week this season, Kaczmarski was also named NCBWA National Hitter of the Week (Apr. 28). He is on the Dick Howser Trophy Watch List, a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist, a Louisville Slugger First Team All-American and one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award.
 
The senior leads all Division I baseball players in batting average (.465), triples (nine), and triples per game (0.20). He is also second in the nation in on-base percentage (.543), and slugging percentage (.746). Kaczmarski led the Purple Aces this season in batting average (.465), hits (86), doubles (19), triples (nine), home runs (five), runs batted in (57), total bases (138), slugging percentage (.746), on-base percentage (.543), stolen bases (13), and fielding percentage (1.000). His .465 batting average is the highest in single season program history.

In the classroom, Kaczmarski boasts a 3.25 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) as an exercise science / psychology major and has now earned All-MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team honors in three consecutive seasons.
 
Billo recorded a team-high seven wins this season with a team-low 3.38 earned run average. The Orland Park, Ill. native has appeared in 19 games, making 12 starts. Billo yielded just 17 walks in a team-leading 82.2 innings pitched. The redshirt senior guided UE to an 11 game winning streak in mid-week contests. Half of Billo's 12 starts were quality starts. He held the seventh most innings pitched and wins in the MVC and the ninth lowest ERA.

In the classroom, Billo holds a 3.70 cumulative GPA in special education. This is his first MVC Scholar Athlete honor.
 
Ramon, a junior infielder from Jackson Heights, N.Y., led the Aces with five home runs this season. His 59 hits, 14 doubles, three triples, 48 runs batted in, 13 hit by pitches and .485 slugging percentage all rank second on the team. Ramon finished fourth in the MVC in RBIs. He tallied 17 multi-hit and 13 multi-RBI games this season.

In the classroom, Ramon has recorded a 3.74 cumulative GPA in communications. This is his first MVC Scholar Athlete honor.
 
Kaczmarski was one of 14 players selected to the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team, which was selected by a vote of the league's sports information directors.  In order to be eligible for the recognition, student-athletes must have a cumulative 3.2 GPA or higher, be at least a sophomore in athletic and academic standing and meet certain playing requirements.